the profession of business analysis

FacultyTraining Institute

The Profession of Business Analysis

Steve ErlankMD Faculty Training Institute

President: SA Chapter of the IIBA™

The Profession of Business Analysis 2© Steve Erlank

AgendaWelcomeIntroductionFocus

What, exactly, is a Business Analyst?The Emergence of the Business Analysis ProfessionWhat leading companies are doingFTI’s role in the BA Profession

Discussion, debate, questions


Observations based on…

Training

ResearchConsulting

Experience

Involvement with IIBA™, BABOK® Review

committee

Authoring

ISETT SGB

There has been an amazing increase in things I know nothing about…..


What exactly is a ‘Business Analyst?’


The heart of the matter!

Business has “requirements”

IT supplies“solutions”

Business Analysts have emerged to fill thegap between Business and IT


‘Typical’ job description of a BAJob description varies widely from organisation to organisationAlmost all business analysts

Gather requirements on behalf of usersProduce Specifications (usually URS, BRS, or FS)

Many BA’s Do testing (UAT)Write change requests for maintenance projectsDo some kind of ‘Support’

Some BA’sWrite Business CasesDo Project managementetc


Changing Requirements roles …..

THEN

Information Technology

DeveloperSystems Analyst

Business

User

NO

W

Business

User

Information Technology

DeveloperSolution Architect

Business Analyst

Traditionally, this role was filled by the Systems Analyst

Now we see…..


What has changedEnvironments are more complex, and need more specialisationThe focus of IT departments has changed Requirements analysis is not well done by people who are primarily solution-oriented Business is demanding more business value Outsourcing options create a skills vacuum in companiesCOTS (packages) projects require different skillsGrowing emphasis on non-IT issues (risk management, information integrity, knowledge management , software quality)

Enter: the Business Analyst….


Different types of Business Analyst

Junior – IntermediateBusiness Analyst

Junior – IntermediateBusiness Analyst

Experienced/senior Business Analyst

Experienced/senior Business Analyst

Enterprise Business Analyst


People who do “Business Analysis”

People who do “Business Analysis”


Junior/Intermediate BA

Need to know, is sent on training courses, reactive discovery rather than proactive inquisitiveness, limited professional reading, limited knowledge of industry and the profession of BA

Learning style

Works on single system or function, Project Budget < R150k, low risk, limited user base and influence, User-driven solution/ product rules

Type of project

Single system, process, business area, Operational level thinking, Limited business & product knowledge although may be very knowledgeable in selected business area or applications area

Domain expertise

Limited awareness of technologies, Makes little impact on IT choices, Hardly uses technology in own work,

Technology expertise

Mainly writes URS, functional or maintenance specs, Probably does testing, works in isolation rather than teams, Problem solving is reactive, limited focus on linking systems effort to business value

Main job function

Information gathering, Technical writing, Analytical thinking & problem solving, Single or no methodology, limited or no use of CASE tools

Skill set


Experienced/Senior Business Analyst

Leader, Inquisitive, Requests training; probably studying part-time, reads widely, belongs to professional society, networks with peers, continually seeks to better skills and knowledge

Learning style

Involve multiple systems & processes with interfaces to other internal or external projects, Project budget up to R3-4m, medium risk, Many stakeholders (can be external), drives solution and product rules

Type of project

Multiple business areas & systems, able to visualise and design for future, strategic business and industry awareness, good business knowledge, but limited to areas worked in, understands need for architecture

Domain expertise

Understands technologies as they are used in the organisation, Innovative in use of technology for own work practices, Able to interact with specialists and understand technology impacts; is respected by IT colleagues


Produces Functional Specs, concerned with feasibility and business impact, produces business cases, Works extensively in groups and teams, facilitates and leads workshops, proactive problem solving, interacts with business and technical roles, and relies on other specialists (e.g. does not do project management, testing,

Main job function

Multiskilled: Excellent modelling skills, extensive methodology, excellent communications skills, strong project skills (can stand in for project manager if required), qualifications, creative, innovative, analytical, organised, self-starter, thought leader

Skill set



Attends (and presents at) conferences, Currently studying post-grad qualification, active participant (committee member) of professional society, Reads extensively, learns through sharing knowledge rather than being taught

Learning style

Enterprise systems implementation, mission critical software rewrite, mergers, global systems, Many stakeholders, high risk and visibility; project budget >R2m, often middleware or ERP type systems, projects may have architectural impact

Type of project

Enterprise-wide and external systems and processes, Strategic focus, influences strategy, Extensive business expertise, able to work at high levels of abstraction and intense detail,

Domain expertise

Understands global and future technology landscape, Uses technology extensively in own work, Excellent CASE skills, able to perceive technology impacts and problems before they happen


Writes RFPs, standards documents, or architecture frameworks rather than specs, defines standards, leads team of BA’s, thinks like consultant; understands ‘value’, Involved in organisational transformation, change agent; active throughout life cycle

Main job function

Able to think at Enterprise Architecture level, a thought leader, Strong leadership skills, Strong business focus, truly understands Risk, Quality, Value, Can drive methodology development

Skill set


The state of BA in organisations todayBusiness Analysis is not yet mature ……

“My job description is unclear! What is a BA supposed to do““There is conflict/confusion/overlap with other roles!”“My company does not understand what a BA does!”“BA’s are poorly ..remunerated…….rewarded …..respected ..recognised ““We have no methodologies“We have no tools“My company does not know where I belong”

But……..The BA role is starting to matureA profession is emerging


The Emergence of a Profession


What is a “professional”?A professional is part of a “profession”

Active participation in a Community of peersKnowledge-oriented (shares and contributes)Membership of professional society; prepared to serveSubscribes to a Code of Ethics; Pursues qualificationAssociate themselves with their work products/historyLife long learning; experience accretionCareer-focused, not an “employee-in-a-job”Licence to practice is sometimes legislated

But not everyone wants to be a ‘professional’


International Institute of Business Analysis

Vision: To be the world's leading association for Business

Analysis professionals

Mission:To develop and maintain

standards for the practice of business analysis and for the certification of its

practitioners


IIBA™ Goals

Create and develop awareness and recognition of the value and contribution of the role of the Business Analysis ProfessionalDefine and maintain the Body of Knowledge (BABOK™)Publicly recognize qualified practitioners through an internationally acknowledged certification program (CBAP®)Provide a forum for knowledgesharing


The IIBA™ DefinitionThe Professional Business Analyst

Works as a liaison among stakeholders to elicit, analyze, communicate and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies, and information and information systemsUnderstands business problemsand opportunities in the context of the requirements and recommends solutions that enable the organization to achieve its goals

The Job

The Value Proposition


IIBA™ Body of Knowledge (BABOK™)

The set of tasks, knowledge, & techniques required in the practice of Business Analysis


Business Analysis CertificationCertified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®)

recognises individuals with an advanced level of knowledge and qualifications`

Entrance Criteria to write the examFive years (7500 hours) work experience in past 10 yearsExperience in 4 out of 6 knowledge areasMinimum high school educationTwo references 21 hours of professional development

CBAP ® Examination Written or web based

International CBAPs: around 4805 in South Africa


Endorsed Education ProvidersThese providers offer courses on business analysis that are aligned with the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge®(BABOK®).Courses are endorsed and earn CDU’s for ongoing learningIIBA™ web site has an area for members to review endorsed education providers

Education providers endorsed by IIBA™ : 655 in South Africa


What are leading companies doing?Clarifying role descriptions

Defining job descriptionsEstablishing Levels and career pathsRecruitment, selection and developmentOngoing assessment

Establishing BA ForumsCentres of Excellence

Investing in MethodologiesProcesses and TemplatesInvestment in toolsets

Investing in SkillsTrainingCoaching and mentoringPerformance measurementSupport for IIBA™ and CBAP®

Why so much focus on Business Analysis?


Faculty Training Institute and Business Analysis


FTI in a nutshella private training companyoperating in corporate marketplaceoffering short courses and qualifications for “knowledge professional”in business since 1989now graduating more than 600 Diploma students a yearmore than 150 leading corporate clientsBased in Cape Town,operating nationally,and expanding offshore


FTI and Business AnalysisEndorsed Education Provider (Charter Member) with IIBA™

Courses endorsed by IIBA™ and BABOK ® v2 compliantPatron (sponsor) of the SA chapter of the IIBA™

BABOK Review Board and Board positionsISETT SGB for Business Analysis (level 5 and level 6 qualifications)World class training


Three types of product

Diploma courses

6 months part-timeAimed at multi-skilled knowledge rolesOriented towards work-place roleRigorous practical assessmentCompany-based assignments

Short courses

2-5 days full timeTargeted specific skillsLimited assessment

Certificate courses

2-4 months part-timeCovers a complex knowledge domainAssessed by theoretical application/exam


Training paths for Professional BAEx

perie

nced

or

Sen

ior B

A5+

yea

rs e

xp

Juni

or/ E

ntry

le

vel B

A0-

3 ye

ars

exp

Prac

ticin

g B

A1-

5 ye

ars

exp

* RPL – Recognition of prior learning

– Entry criteria apply

Note:1. The IIBA CBAP® exam is only available from

the IIBA ™2. To date, no SAQA standards for BA have

been published at the appropriate level

Principles of Prof BA(4 days)N

on-B

APr

ofes

sion

al

BA5+

yea

rs e

xp

ProfessionalApprox

SAQA Level 5Approx

SAQA Level 6Approx

SAQA Level 7Approx

SAQA Level 4

Certificate Program in Business Analysis

(4 months)CPBACPBA

BA Bootcamp(5 days)

BA Fasttrack(5 days)

Recognition of prior learning

Adv Dip Enterprise Analysis

(6 months)Adv

DipBA

Adv DipBA

CBAP Exam preparation

(4 days)IIBA

CBAP®

IIBA CBAP®

Master ClassesMaster

ClassesMaster ClassesDipBADipBADiploma in

Business Analysis6 months


Certificate Programme in Business Analysis

Duration 3 months part-time (day time workshops)

Target AudienceEntry level Business Analyst requiring theoretical and applied knowledge of core BA skills. NB: excludes interpersonal skills

Pre-requisite2 years working experienceComputer and language proficiency

Assessment2 exams (30% each)Assignment (30%)Participation (10% )

The Role of the Business Analyst (1 day)

Requirements Elicitation and definition (2 days)

Preparing the Business Case(2 days)

Business Process Modelling(2 days)

Interface specifications (1 day

Information requirements modelling(2 days)

Requirements Management and the Functional Specification (1 day)

Enterprise Analysis (1 days)


Diploma in Business Analysis6 months part timeTarget Audience

Professional Business Analyst requiring mastery of BABOK and comprehensive skill set

Prerequisites4-5 years workingComputer and language literacyMust have access to BA projects or working as a BA

AssessmentBusiness Case (20%)Presentation (10%)Functional Spec (30%)Examination (30%)Participation (10%

Presentation Skills for IT Professionals (2 days)

Requirements Elicitation, probing and interviewing (2 days)

Preparing the Business Case (4 sessions)

Business Process Modelling & Business Rules (4)

Interface specifications (2 sessions)

Information requirements modelling (4 sessions)

Solution Integration & Functional Specification (2 sessions)

Enterprise Analysis (2 sessions)

Software Processes & Lifecycles (2 sessions)

Facilitation Skills for IT Professionals (2 full days)

Business Analysis & Requirements Definition (2 sessions)

Agile workshop (4 Full days)


Advanced Programme in Enterprise BADuration

6 months part-timeTarget Audience

Experienced Business Analyst operating at Enterprise level

Pre-requisiteDipBA or equivalent (Merit or Distinction) Extensive working experience; analysis or consulting workMature work and study ethicEntrance criteria apply

AssessmentBusiness Proposal (20%)Management Presentation (10%)White Paper (20%)Conference presentation (10%)Examination (30% )Participation (10%)

Systems Thinking2 days

Enterprise Architecture(4 sessions)

Package evaluation and implementation (4 sessions)

Usability Engineering (4 sessions)

Business Process Management(4 sessions)

Information and Knowledge Management(4 sessions)

Information Systems Risk Management4 sessions

IT and Business Trends(2 sessions)


Business Analysis Bootcamp4 day short course followed by 6 days live- in practical workshopTarget Audience

Experienced and qualifiedBA’s seeking fast-track to the Diploma

Prerequisites2 years working as a BAPass the Entrance ExamMust show evidence of prior delivery of a Business Case and a Functional Specification

AssessmentEntrance Examination (Theory) (20%)RPL (marking of prior documents) (40%) Examination (Practical) (40%)

BA Techniques RevisionFasttrack(4 days)

BA Bootcanp(6 Full days)

Entrance ExamProof of Business CaseProof of Functional Spec

Final Exam


Certificate in OO Analysis & DesignDuration

3 months part-time (day time workshops)

Target AudienceBusiness & Systems Analysts requiring in depth experience in UML

Pre-requisite2 years working experience

Computer and language proficiency

AssessmentExamination (40%)Assignment (50%)Participation (10% )

Introduction to Objects, OO methodologies and UML (3 days)

Iterative Development Workshop (Agile)

(2 days)

Object Oriented Systems Analysis(8 evenings)


And now….


Key ideas There is growing awareness in companies, globally, about the value professional BA’s can add to their companiesThe BA Profession is growing and becoming stronger There is growing interest in the CBAP® qualificationProfessional, skilled and competent Business Analysts are in great demandBusiness Analysis is a job for the knowledge ageFTI will continue to underwrite the profession in SA, and push the envelope of training and supporting products


Next steps?Read through info packs/Think about thingsFind out more about the IIBA™, the BABOK™ or the CBAP®

www.southafrica.theiiba.org or www.theiiba.orgParticipate in the IIBA ™

Create a KZN chapterStand for election?

Find out about BA trainingFTI: www.fti.co.zaOther EEP’s: SA chapter site

Request a follow-up discussion?Continue with breakfast…..


Steve ErlankPresident – IIBA ™ South Africa

Managing Director – Faculty Training Institute

[email protected]

Thank you

the profession of business analysis

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